Filey to Red Cliff, North Yorkshire: National Vegetation Classification Survey Report 2021.
Abstract
Haycock and Jay Associates Ltd. was commissioned by Natural England to undertake a National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey of habitats within a survey area extending from Lebberston Cliff to Filey Sands. The survey identified a complex interplay of factors which were found to be influencing grassland and maritime vegetation communities. These include soils and underlying geology, aspect, slope, amount of input from salt-spray, drainage and locally on hard-cliffs, enrichment by sea birds. The major influence is the dynamic nature of the soft cliffs with natural processes causing slipping and erosion at varying rates in different parts of the site. Soft cliff erosion was noted to be particularly active at Gristhorpe Sands where there are extensive areas of bare ground and rotational slippage to form wetlands.